Katie Henry, author of HERETICS ANONYMOUS, on growing up along with her book

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re excited to have Katie Henry join us to chat about her debut novel, HERETICS ANONYMOUS.

Katie, what scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

There’s a scene in HERETICS ANONYMOUS that takes place at a pro-chastity school assembly, and that one was hard to write because I had zero personal experience with abstinence-only sex ed. My high school was secular, public, and liberal to the point of basically being a Portlandia sketch. As research, I watched a lot of abstinence presentations on YouTube, which I don’t recommend as a life choice, but I do think the scene turned out funny.

What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book–or vice versa?

On the YA side: if readers are into the feminism, religion, and religious feminism, they’d love BLOOD WATER PAINT by Joy McCullough. I can’t say enough good things about her beautiful, harrowing verse novel.

On the very-much-not YA side: I know not everyone has a favorite theologian, but I do, and her name is Elizabeth Johnson. Anyone looking for an interpretation of the Bible that lifts up women, people of color, and LGBT+ people should check out QUEST FOR A LIVING GOD and SHE WHO IS.

How long did you work on HERETICS ANONYMOUS?

I wrote the first words in July 2013. It took me almost three years to finish the first draft, but thankfully, things moved more quickly after that! I was 22 when I started HERETICS ANONYMOUS, and I’ll turn 28 the week after it releases. In a lot of ways, I feel like I grew up with this book.

What do you hope readers will take away from HERETICS ANONYMOUS?

That belief is complicated, no matter what you do believe in and what you don’t. That it’s okay question your beliefs, to not be sure, or to change your mind. That there’s more to another person’s faith than you might see at first glance, and that there’s probably more to that person, too.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

I usually write on my couch, usually with coffee within arm’s reach, and I only listen to Stravinsky concertos.

I’m totally kidding. It’s Green Day. I only listen to Green Day while writing because I’m desperately clinging to the halcyon days of 2004, a simpler era when Von Dutch trucker hats were cool.

Again, kidding. It’s actually because I wrote my very first (terrible) YA book while listening to American Idiot on my Sony Discman, and now that’s the only thing that gets me in the mood to write. It’s sort of a pop punk Pavlov’s dog situation.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Heretics Anonymous
by Katie Henry
Hardcover
Katherine Tegen Books
Released 8/7/2018

When Michael walks through the doors of Catholic school, things can’t get much worse. His dad has just made the family move again, and Michael needs a friend. When a girl challenges their teacher in class, Michael thinks he might have found one, and a fellow atheist at that. Only this girl, Lucy, isn’t just Catholic . . . she wants to be a priest.

Lucy introduces Michael to other St. Clare’s outcasts, and he officially joins Heretics Anonymous, where he can be an atheist, Lucy can be an outspoken feminist, Avi can be Jewish and gay, Max can wear whatever he wants, and Eden can practice paganism.

Michael encourages the Heretics to go from secret society to rebels intent on exposing the school’s hypocrisies one stunt at a time. But when Michael takes one mission too far—putting the other Heretics at risk—he must decide whether to fight for his own freedom or rely on faith, whatever that means, in God, his friends, or himself.

Purchase Heretics Anonymous at Amazon
Purchase Heretics Anonymous at IndieBound
View Heretics Anonymous on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Henry is a writer living and working in New York City. She received her BFA in dramatic writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is a published playwright, specializing in theater for young audiences. Her plays have been performed by high schools and community organizations in over thirty states. Heretics Anonymous is her first novel. You can find her online at www.katiehenrywrites.com.

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Have you had a chance to read HERETICS ANONYMOUS yet? What kind of YouTube videos have you watched for book research? Does certain music put you in the writing mood? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy Reading,

Jocelyn, Halli, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, Emily, and Lori Ann

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Aug 7, 2018

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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